Well-sinking apparatus.



M. T. CHAPMAN WELL SINKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.13, 1909v Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

8 SHEETE-SHEET l,

M. T. CHAPMAN.

WELL SINKING API ARATUS. I APPLICATION FILED MAR.13,1909.

1,079,539, Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

' B SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. T. CHAPMAN.

WELL SINKING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAB.13, 1909.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

8 SHBETS-SHEET 3 M. T. CHAPMAN.

WELL SINKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1909.

Patented N 0v. 25, 1913 gin/0617701".-

M. T. CHAPMAN.

WELL SINKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 13, 1909 Patented Nov. 25, 1913 8 SHEETS SHEBT 5 ofra evl/ar':

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

8 SHEETSSHEET 6.

M. T. CHAPMAN.

WELL SINKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.13,1909.

Patented N 0v. 25, 1913.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

M. T. CHAPMAN.

WELL SINKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 13, 1909. 1 079 539. Patented Nov. 25, 1913 UNITED sra'rns' PATEET raa e ioa.

MATTHIi W T. CHAPMAN. OF AURORA. ILLINOIS, Is-SSIGNOB T8 THE AMERICAN WELL WORKS, AURORA, ILLINOIS. A CQRPOB-ATIDN 9'3? EITLLLKOIS.

XVELL-SINKTNG APFARATUQ Application filefi March 13, 1903.

Be it known that I, MATTHEW T. CHAP' aux, a citizen. of the United States, resi(l i119: at Aurora. in the count of Kane and State of lllinois. hare invenietl certain new tlllii awful linpro einents in eil-Sinking Apparatus, of which the following is a sperilii-ation. re erenee being had to the no roinpanying drawings.

My invention ialates i'o w-fisinking apparatus. and has for its object to provide (.Cl'lilili innmovements in apparatus for hot ing or drilling deep wells. such improvem nts relating to the mechanism for grip ping the well-tube or boring-pipe so that it may he rotaterl and at the same time be free to descent. as the (ienlh oi the well increases, and also s that it may oe jumped when desired: to mechanism for supporting the welltn'o and holding it against rotation w'liilv .-:e ;tion.-. oi the \rell tnbe are added or remove-cl and foi hohling the pipe from fallinn incl: into the well when being drawn outshonlcl the hoisting tackle give out; and to certain other features of construction which are hereinafter particularly pointed out.

In a general wav it may be stated that "Well-sinking :i niiaratus of the type to which my present application relates is shown in Patent No. 382.689, granted to me May 15, 1888, in Patent- No. 409.272, granted to me Angn t'ifi, 1548i). and in Patent No. 775,417, granted'to me November 22, i904; also in my pending application. Ser. No. 329,237, filed August 4. 1906.

In the accompanying (l1'21WlIXgS,-l*igu1 1 is a plan View; of my improved apparatus, showing the clevices for gri'iping the welltube and rotating it for welhsinking purj Fig. is a vertical section on line i2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation illustrating my said apparatus when arranged for adding or removing a section of pipe; Fig. 4 is a View showing the parts shown in Fig. 3, the turntable being in ver tieal section, on line. l-4 of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 6 6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a erosssection on line T7 of Fig. i; Fig". 8 is a partial vertical section on line 8-8 of Fig. 9; Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on linev of Fig. 8:, Fig. 10 is a rerti *ai sectional view showing the tubular center of the turntable and the lish-lml ling frame; Fig. ll is a plan View Speeificaticn of Letters Patent.

Piiiiiil'i'i'til Nov. 525, 1913.

i of t 'n stationary base a bottom view HQ! Fig. 13 i the a YiOET tion.

I oi. the type in "iI f-Li relates croma It m/(able eome :inrl .l io rotate I base. The abie. gripping and grip a snowing A well- 1 nay prise generi 7 p posed of a slalioi a rotary member :ihoni a rosary inn. mew Ii -ill :nlipfetl 3o roan. pip-e toiroiati y: it. vh le perinitting emlwhe m vement 4: Lent through the gripping (ieriees which consists usually of rotary ills =i in a nimble frame and having? l engage the pipe or well-ta. i inio ii sntlieiently in eonipol i'is rol h the rotary moor her of the turn me gripping devices are llilllllltttl in a sniiahir is'znne or frames whirl: are vertically moraine upon guidermls or slunilartls in such 1 anner as to permit the grippers to more up and down with the well-lithe when the latter is jumped? in the flpaltlii fi of boring a suitable bit is plated at the lower end of a section of wellinhe. an l when the Well has been bored to such a leg-1 :1 to receive. the greater part of the Gib-ink. a second section is atitierl ii serewin it into a coupling at he upper entl of the .nxst "eetion. i (lrlitiunal seelions are added from time to time a reqi well-tube may eoi t, of of sections. In iQlDUi'iilg a: from the well the operation lifted to ex ported an'l upperna A.

from the coupling operation oeing r peatetl until the veveral sections are SHCC2P rely removed. With this explanation of the general et'mstrnetion and operation of well-sinking a. rain; of the type illnstratell in the. draw i. will now pro- C(Qtl to (iQSCiliM? the a .ns illustrated eial rcierenee t 1. novel features is generally circular in form and is provided with an upwardly-projecting central sleeve 18 considerably greater in diameter than the well-tube. At its upper end the sleeve 18 is provided with a series of internal notches or recesses 19, best shown in Figs. 10 and 11, placed equally distant apart i to receive radial lugs 20 carried atthe lower margin of a frame 21 designed to support a series of disks 22, or equivalent devices, by which the well-tube is engaged and held against rotation whilesections are being added to or removed from it. The frame 21 fits closely upon the u per end of the sleeve 18 and is provider? with a radial flange 23 which rests u on the upper edge of said sleeve 18, said game when in position being as illustrated in Fig. 2. The frame 21 also serves as a cover-plate to substantially close the upper end of the sleeve 18 about the well-tube.

The disks 22 are best shown in Figs. 8

and 9, from which itwill be seen that they are provided with a series of grooves making a series of parallel ridges which are sharp and are adapted toengage and bite into the Well-tube 24. The several disks are mounted eccentrically upon pivots 25 suitably secured in the frame 21, the pivots being below the centers of the disks so that the disks may be caused to swing toward the well-tube in the manner shown in Fig. 8. A hinged collar 26 is secured around the well-tube below one of the coupling sleeves 27, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8,

. and rests upon the disks 22 so that the weight of the well-tube transmitted through the collar 26 is applied to the upper surfaces of the disks and presses them firmly into contact with the well-tube, thereby causing them to engage it firmly and prevent its rotation.

In F ig. 4, and also in the other figures, I have shown another form of gripping device used in lieu of the disks 22, the same comprising segmental blocks or pawls-28 which, are mounted upon the pivots 25 and are ada ted to swing into engagement with the wel -tube' 24 so as to engage the same in the same rriinner as do the disks 22. The engaging face of the blocks 28 are serrated, 'as shown in Fig. 6, so that they bite into the well-tube and prevent its rotation. The projecting portions of the blocks 28 which engage the. well-tube are made angular, as

own at 29 in Fig. 4, and the collar 26 rests upon them, thereby forcing them into bit-ing engagement with the well'tube in the. manner already described. .Thus the well-tube is not only supported against descent and prevented from falling back into thewell when being drawn out should the hoisting tackle give way, but is held against rotation so that the section of the well-tube above the coupling 27 may readily berecentral sleeve of the stationary portion of the turntable an integral part of the base, as shown, the structure as a whole is made much stronger and more secure and also the gripper supporting frame 21 is convenient of access and may be more readily put in place or removed.

The construction of the collar 26 is fully illustrated and described in my pending application above referred to and therefore need not be described in detail here. It will sufiice to say that it is composed of two semicircular members connected at one side by a hinge 30 and at the other side by a link 31 which swings in a recess 32 in lips 33 which project at the sides of the collar mem bers opposite the hinge 30. The link 31 is adapted to swing over upon the members of the collar, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to lie flush with the upper surface thereof, and is long enough to project under the coupling sleeve 27, as shown therein. Thus the weight of the well-tube rests upon the upper end of the link 31 when the latter is in operative position and effectually prevents its displacement.

The parts of the mechanism thus far described are all stationary. That is to say, they do not rotate, as they are all supported by the stationary portion of the turntable. The rotating portions of the apparatus are carried by the upper or rotary memben of the turntable 34, which overlies the base of the turntable and encircles the central sleeve 18, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The rotary member 34 is mounted on anti-friction rollers 35 fitted in suitable runways in the members of the turntable and is driven by a gear 36'which meshes with an annular rack 37 on the under side of the rotary member of the turntable, as shown in Fig. 2, said gear being mounted on a shaft 38 driven frpm any suitable source of power. The upper member of the turntable is centered and held down in proper position by guide-rollers 39-40 WlllCll are mounted on the base of the turntable in suitable supports 4l-42, re-

spectively, asshown in Fig. 3. The supports 41 for the rollers 39, in the construction shown, are composed of inverted U shaped frames having a slotwhich is radial relatively'to the turntable, said slot receiving the pivot of the roller, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the roller may be adjusted toward and from the turntable. The supports 42 which carry the rollers 40 are in the form of L-shaped brackets mounted on the stationa member of the turntable, the rollers 40 bis ing carried by pivots fitted in suitable be rings in the vertical portions of said standards. The rollers '39 are mounted to rotate on vertical axes and run in a groove 43 in the periphery of the turntable member 34-,while the rollers 40 rotate on horizontal (es and bear on an annular flange 44 which v orms the lower margin of said groove 43.

'4546 indicate uprights or standards which rise from the rotary member of the u, turntable at.diametrically opposite points and are secured at their lower ends in sockets 47 48, respectively, preferably by set-screws 49. The standards 4546 serve not only to support and guide the gripping to devices by which the well-tube is rotated in boring, but also to support the wrenches employed in screwing and unscrewing the pipe sections, as will be hereinafter described.

l-52 indicate sockets provided on the u rotary member .of the turntable at opposite sides of the socket 47, and 53-54 indicate similar sockets placed at opposite sides of the socket '48. The sockets 47. 51 and 52 are connected by webs 55, and in like manner to the sockets 48, 53 and 54 are connected by webs 56 for strengthening purposes. The sockets 51 and are to receive upright rods or standards 5758. and the sockets 53 and 54 are to receive upright rods or standards 5t)(30, respectively, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Said standards 57, 58, 59 and (it) are employed only when the pipe sections are be ing screwed or unscrewed,at other times being removed so that the central standards -4G only arevused when boring.

The devices for gripping the wetl-tube in boring are best shown in Figs. 1, Q and 7. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 7., each up right 4:346 carries a double-ended screw shaft 61 provided with a hub (32 which slides upon the standard 4-5 or 46 and carries at its ends oppositelydisposed hand-wheels G36 which screw upon its' ends. The hand wheels 63-64 are provided with globular o hubs 65 which bear in suitable sockets in crossrheads 06-67, shown in Figs. 2 and 7. The cross-heads 66-67 each support two parallel horizontal shafts which carry grip- 1ping rollers which engage the well-tube, as .ereinbeforc described,68--69 indicating the shafts carried by the cross-head (3G and 70--7] those carried by the cross-head 67. 72*-73 indicate the rollers carried by the shafts 69-439, and 74-75 those carried by the shafts 70-71. As best shown in Figs. 1

and 7. the rollers of each pair are at pposite sides of the center of the well-tube 2t. and the four rollers in the same horizontal plane accordingly engage the well-tube at points practically ninety degrees apart. From the foregoing description it will be seen that the cross-heads 66--67 are in effect equalizers that are free to rock upon the tubular hubs of the hand-wheels 63 64, 60 and consequently the rollers upon the upper and lower shafts may accommodate themselves more perfectly to the well-tube, thus securing a better gripping effect. Besides, they also adapt themselves better to the 13- movement of the pipe when the. latter is jumped and avoid the clamping and binding at such times as is the case in prh 1' constructions. Furthermore. this 0. ihti' t' tion better accommodates itself to thc pmsage of the pipe couplings. as the ro king frame which carries the gripping devi es may swing out at the top and in at the bottom, or out at the bottom and in at the top. as may be necessary to permit a coupling to pass. The several handqvhcels may be independently adjusted so that the proper contact of the several grippers may readily be obtained. In order to turn the handwheels tiii tlt more tightly and thus secure a better engagement between the several rollers of the Well-tul=c. I provide a lever 76 having a pin 77 in one end adapted to enter holes TS in the hand-wheels near the periphery thereof and also having a segmental guide-portion 79 whi h l)('t'.l.\ against the periphery of the haud-wheel which is: preferably tubular in form. as shown at $0 in Fig. H. The ends of the guide it) we tend laterally at both sides of the median line of the lever. and consequently when the lever is applied to the hand-wheel and pulled in either direction it acts to rotate the hand-wheel accordingly. 81 indicates legs which depend from the cross-heads 60-437 and when the crosshcads are in their lowermost position rest upon ways 87 which extend transversely of the upper member of the turntable.

'hcn a section of pipe is to be applied or removed the well-tube is supported in the manner already described, by the collar 26. and the standards or posts .37, 58, 59. and (v) are applied to their respective sockets, the three posts at each side being connected to each other atthe top by connecting bars 82-83. as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Pipe wrenches are then applied to the intermediate standards 4546, as shown in Fig. 4. said wrenches being preferably of the type shown and consisting of a lever 84: and chain 85, the chain being adapted to encircle the pipe and be engaged by a serrated jaw 86 at-thc inner end of the lever. The outer end of the wrench is fitted in a suitable clamp or socket 88 vertically adjustable upon the standard 4-3 or 46 so that it is held firmly in position, the connection between the wrench and the standard being yirtually a pivotal connection. It will be apparent that-the lower section of the well'tube-being held against rotation b the clamping devices hereinbefore described, when the upper member of the turntable is rotated in adirection opposite to that in which it is ro-- tated for well-sinking purposes, the upper section of the well-tube may be unscrewed and removed. ln like'manner, by properly applying the wrenchcs in inverted position and rotating the upper section of the turntable in the same direction as in sinking the well the upper section of pipe may be screw-11 into the coupling and thereby united with the lower portion of the welltube. it will be understood that the levers 84 may be slid back through the loops of the clamps when not in use, being held thus in readiness for application to the pipe at the'proper elevation without the necessity for their being lifted, being thus slid back if desired after each screwing or unscrewing operation during the proper manipulation of the pipe sections for the next succeeding operation. Moreover, by this arrangement,

ber comprising a base having a central opening for the passage of the boring tools and an integral upwardly-extending support around said opening, a rotary member fitting around said support, anti-friction rollers supporting said rotary member, and means detachably connected with said support for holding the welltube or boring device from rotation when another section of tubing is connected thereto by rotation.

2. In a rotary well-sinking machine, the combination of a stationary turntable mem-- ber comprising a base having a central opening for the passage of theboring tools and an upwardly-projecting sleeve around said opening, a rotary member fitting around said sleeve; anti-friction rollers supporting said rotary member, and means detachably connected with said sleeve for holding the welltube or boring device from rotation when another section of tubing is connected thereto by rotation.

3, A well-sinking apparatus having a non rotary base having a central opening for the passage of the well tube and a removable support; having, pivoted gripping devices adapted to be thrown forward into engagement with the well-tube for supporting it against downward movement and to be thrown back out of engagement therewith to permit the passage 0 the well tube downward. 4. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turntable comprising a, lower stationary member and an upper rotary memher, said stationary member having a central opening for the passage of the well-tube, a-

support adapted to non-rotatably engage said stationary member, andmeans carried by said support and movable into and out of engagement with the well-tube for support ing the same against downward movement.

5. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turntable comprising a lower stationary member and an upper rotary member, said stationary member having a central opening for the passage of the well-tube, a support adapted to non-rotatably engage said stationary member, and gripping devices carried by said support and movable into and out of engagement with the welltube for supporting the same against. downward movement. and holding the same against rotation.

6. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turntable comprising a lower stationary. member and an upper rotary member, said stationary member having a. central opening for the passage of the welltube, a separable support adapted to mom rotatably engage said stationary member,

and means carried by said support and actu-' ated by the weight of the well-tube for gripping the same.

7. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turntable comprising a lower stationary member and an upper rotary member, said stationary member having a central opening for the passage of the welltubc, a separable support adapted, to nonrotatably engage said stationary member,

and pivoted means carried by said support and actuated by the weight of the well-tube for gripping the same.

8. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turntable comprising a lower sta tionary member and an upper rotary memher, said stationary member having a 'central opening for the passage of the well-tube, a separable support adapted to non-rotatably engage said stationary membenand devices pivotally carried by said support and extending upwardly and inwardly into engagement with the well-tube whereby the weight of the well-tube operates to force said devices into engagement therewith.

9. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turntable comprising a lower stationary member and an upper rotary memher, a plurality of sets of standards carriedbysaid turntable at opposite sides thereof, means fo'r'bracing the standards of each set, and pipe enehes secured to one of the standards at each side of the turntable and engaging tile. well-tube,

1O.v In a,whll-sinking apparatus, the combination-of a, turntable comprising a lower stationary; member and an upper rotary member, twosets of standards carried by said turntable at opposite sides thereof, each of said sets comprising three standards, means for bracing the standards of each set together, and pipe wrenches connected re spectively with the central stand rds of each set and engaging the well-tube.

l1. In a Well'sinhing apparatus, the combinatlon of a turntaiilo. gripping devices on opposite sides of the woiitube, and means or securing said gripping devices together for gripping tho nolLtnl' o and rotating it with the turntable, one of said grippingde- Yiccs com nising two crossheads upon which said scouring means bear, a gripping disk'rovoluhly inonnted between said cross heads adapted to engage the well-tube, and another gripping disk revolubly mounted between said (YIUFS heads in a difierent horizontal plane adapted to engage the Well tube, said cross-hernias being adaptedto rock on a horizontal axis rclative to said securing means.

12. ln a well inking apparatus, the combination of a turntable, gripping devices on opposite of tho Well-tube, and means for scruri nn Salk gn'ipping devices together for gripping tho wall-tube and'rotating it with the turntabls, each of said gripping devices comprising two cross-heads upon which said securing means boar, gripping disks revolubly mounted between said crosshends 1n the some horizontal plane adapted toongage the wc-lbtnbo, and other gripping disks revolubly mounted between said heads in a difierent horizontal plane adapted to engage the welbtnbe, said crossheads being adapted to rock on horizontal axes relative to said securing msans.

13. In a Well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turntable, gripping devices on opposite sides of the Well-tube, and means for securing snid gripping devices together for gripping the welldnbe and rotating it with the turntablesach of said gripping de vices comprising; two cross-heads upon which said securing 'mcans boar, grippingv disks revolubly mounted between said crossheads in the same horizon al plane adapted to engage the Well-tubs, and other gripping disks revolnbly mounted between said cross-heads in a different horizontal plane adapted to engage the well-tubs, said securing moans comprising screw" extending loosely through the oppositely ,osod croissheads of said gripping devices, and means screwed on. the outer ends of said screws for forcingsaid cross-heads together, said crossheads being adapted to rock on horizontal axes relative to said securing moans.

In a wr-ll apparatus, the combination of a t1 '1 I gripping dovioss on opposite sides of tho welhtube. and means for scouringsaid gripping devices together for gripping thc-wcll'tube and rotating it with the turntal devices cum n-i which said so disrs ro i olub heads in illl, to engage the w disks rcvolubiy heads in a diilcrent horizontal piano adapt.- ed to engage the wcli tube, said securing means comprising screws mounted on the turntable and c-Xtcnding loosely through reg-- istcring openings in (ho oppositely disposed cross-brads of said gripping dcri cs, and hand-uhccls inning "lolmlar hubs scrcucd on the outer ends of rid sci-cuts adapted to force said gripping dcviccs togcthcr but adapted to permit them to rock rclatii'o to the hubs. I

15. In a well-sinking apparatus. the combination of a turntablc, i'ramcs on opposite sidos of the weli-tubo, gripping disks revolubly mounted on said frames and adapted to engage the well-tube, screws exlcndiup ends of said frames, and means screwed on the outcr ends of said screws for forcing said frames together, said frames being adapted to rock on horizontal axes relative to said screws.

16. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of. a turntable, frames on opposite sides of the well-tubs, gripping disks revolubly mounted on said frames, other gripping disks revolubly mounted on said frames in adiflerout horizontal plane lherefrom, screws extending loosely through the oppositely disposed ends of said frames, and hand-,d'hecls having globular heads screwed on the outer ends of said sorewsadapted to force said frames together but adapted to permit them to rock relative to the hubs.

17. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turntable having upright standards, transverse shafts mounted on said standards, rocking frames mounted upon Ward and from the Well-tube, a pair of parallel shafts mounted in said frames at opposite sides of the Well-tube, gripping do vicos carried by said parallel shafts, and means mounted on said transverse shafts and engaging said frames for forcing the gripping devices into engagement With the well: tube.

18. The combination of a base having a central opening and provided with an inteoral upright support surroundingsaid 0pening, with separable means adapted to be nonrotatably connected with *aaid support for engaging the pipe and holding the same against rotation.

19. The combination-of a base having a central opening: and a stationary support surrounding said opening, with separable means adapted to be non-rotatablyconneoted to said support and having gripping devices actuated by the weight of the pipe for grip ping thepipo to hold it against rotation.

The combination of a base having a ral oponing and a. stationary support gsurroundinp; said opening, with separable a i means adapted to be non'rotatably connected loosely through the oppositcl disposed' the ends of said shafts and movable totable .and connected with said rotary member and movable vertically independently thereof, and a plurality of gripping devices in different horizontal planes carried by each of said frames, said frames being movable independently of each other to carry their gripping devices into and out of engagement with the pipe.

22. In a-well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turntable, means for rotatin the same, a standard rising therefrom, an a pipe wrench pivotally mounted on said standard and adapted to be carried around with the turntable for rotating a Well-tube extending through the turntable.

23. In a welL-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turntable, means for rotatin the same, a standard rising therefrom, an a pipe Wrench pivotally mounted on said standard and adapted to be carried around with the turntable for rotating a well-tube extending through the turntable, and also adapted to be swung on said pivot out of engagement with the well tube.

24. In a Well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turntable, means for rotating the same, a standard rising therefrom, a clamp mounted on said standard having a horizontal opening therethrough, and a plpe wrench slidably mounted in said opening and adapted to be connected to a weil-tube extending through the turntable.

25. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a turntable, means for rotating the same, a standard rising therefrom, a sleeve adjustably mounted on said standard,

a. ring mounted on said sleeve. and a pipe wrench slidably mounted in said ring and adapted to be connected to a well-tube eX-, tending through the turntable.

26. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a base having an upright "*annular sleet'e, a turntable fitted around said sleeve, anti-friction devices supportingsaid turntable, and a removable cover-plate fitted upon and non-rotatably engaging said sleeve.

27. In a well-sinking apparatus, the combination of a base having an upright annular sleeve, a turntable fitted around said sleeve, anti-friction devices supporting said turntable, a removable cover-plate fitted upon and non-rotatably engaging said sleeve,-

and means carried by the turntable for gripping the well-tube.

MATTHEW T. CHAPMAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. JACKSON, MINNIE A. HUNTER. 

